Best Daycares in Iowa — 2026 Rankings

We ranked 30 daycares and childcare centers across 6 cities in Iowa.

Top Daycares in Iowa

  1. #1 — Montessori Children's Center Score: 86%

    Clive, IA — Montessori Children's Center is a childcare center in Clive, IA. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://ihappyhearts.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  2. #2 — Tiny Treasures Lutheran Preschool Score: 86%

    Urbandale, IA — Tiny Treasures Lutheran Preschool is a childcare center in Urbandale, IA. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.gdlc.church/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  3. #3 — Mitchell Early Learning Center Score: 86%

    Des Moines, IA — Mitchell Early Learning Center is a childcare center in Des Moines, IA. Programs include Preschool, school, home service. Website: http://www.dmschools.org.

    Programs: Preschool, School, Home service. View full profile →

  4. #4 — Wakonda Preschool Score: 86%

    Des Moines, IA — Wakonda Preschool is a childcare center in Des Moines, IA. Programs include Preschool, elementary school, school. Website: http://www.wakondapreschool.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Elementary school, School. View full profile →

  5. #5 — Conmigo Early Education Center Score: 86%

    Des Moines, IA — Conmigo Early Education Center is a childcare center in Des Moines, IA. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.conmigoearlyed.org/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  6. #6 — New Horizon Academy - Downtown Des Moines Score: 86%

    Des Moines, IA — New Horizon Academy - Downtown Des Moines is a childcare center in Des Moines, IA. Programs include Preschool, child care and day care, school, education. Website: http://www.newhorizonacademy.net/.

    Programs: Preschool, Child care and day care, School, Education. View full profile →

  7. #7 — Yellow Brick Road Early Childhood Development Center Score: 86%

    West Des Moines, IA — Yellow Brick Road Early Childhood Development Center is a childcare center in West Des Moines, IA. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool, home service. Website: http://www.ybrecdc.org/.

    Programs: Preschool, Day care preschool, Home service. View full profile →

  8. #8 — All Star Daycare and Preschool Score: 86%

    Des Moines, IA — All Star Daycare and Preschool is a childcare center in Des Moines, IA. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool, home service. Website: http://allstardaycareia.net/.

    Programs: Preschool, Day care preschool, Home service. View full profile →

  9. #9 — Oak Academy Score: 84%

    Des Moines, IA — Oak Academy is a childcare center in Des Moines, IA. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://oakridgeneighborhood.org.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  10. #10 — Plymouth Nursery School Score: 80%

    Des Moines, IA — Plymouth Nursery School is a childcare center in Des Moines, IA. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: https://sigler.chipply.com/PlymouthNurseryFall2025/?action=viewall.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  11. #11 — West Des Moines United Methodist Early Learning Preschool Score: 80%

    West Des Moines, IA — West Des Moines United Methodist Early Learning Preschool is a childcare center in West Des Moines, IA. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.wdmumelp.org/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  12. #12 — Westside Early Education Score: 80%

    Des Moines, IA — Westside Early Education is a childcare center in Des Moines, IA. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.friendsofwee.com/WEE/Welcome.html.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  13. #13 — Childcare Village Montessori Chiqui-School Score: 77%

    Des Moines, IA — Childcare Village Montessori Chiqui-School is a childcare center in Des Moines, IA. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: https://chiquipreschool.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  14. #14 — Woodlawn Education Center Score: 71%

    Des Moines, IA — Woodlawn Education Center is a childcare center in Des Moines, IA. Programs include Preschool, home service, school. Website: http://woodlawnelementaryschool.com.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, School. View full profile →

  15. #15 — La Petite Academy Score: 69%

    Des Moines, IA — La Petite Academy is a childcare center in Des Moines, IA. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.lapetite.com.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  16. #16 — Bergman Academy Score: 69%

    Des Moines, IA — Bergman Academy is a childcare center in Des Moines, IA. Programs include Preschool, private school, elementary school. Website: http://www.bergmanacademy.org/.

    Programs: Preschool, Private school, Elementary school. View full profile →

  17. #17 — Lil Scholars Preschool Score: 69%

    Des Moines, IA — Lil Scholars Preschool is a childcare center in Des Moines, IA. Programs include Preschool, child care and day care, school, education. Website: http://www.lilscholarspreschool.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Child care and day care, School, Education. View full profile →

  18. #18 — America's Children of Oakmoor Score: 69%

    Des Moines, IA — America's Children of Oakmoor is a childcare center in Des Moines, IA. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool, home service. Website: http://americaschildrendm.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Day care preschool, Home service. View full profile →

  19. #19 — Beginning Memories Preschool Score: 69%

    Council Bluffs, IA — Beginning Memories Preschool is a childcare center in Council Bluffs, IA. Programs include Preschool, elementary school, home service. Website: https://sites.google.com/view/beginning-memories-preschool/home.

    Programs: Preschool, Elementary school, Home service. View full profile →

  20. #20 — St. Paul's Lutheran Early Childhood Center Score: 69%

    Council Bluffs, IA — St. Paul's Lutheran Early Childhood Center is a childcare center in Council Bluffs, IA. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.splecc.org.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

How We Rank Daycares & Childcare Centers

Our Guide Score percentage combines Google rating (35%), review volume (20%), web and contact presence (20%), profile completeness (15%), accreditation such as NAEYC (5%), press recognition (3%), and years of operation (2%), then normalizes across captured positive categories. Read our full methodology →

Frequently asked questions

What is the best daycare in Iowa?
Montessori Children's Center is currently the #1 ranked daycare in Iowa based on our Guide Score. See the full statewide ranked list above.
How many daycares are ranked in Iowa?
We have ranked 30 daycares and childcare centers across 6 cities in Iowa. Rankings are computed by Guide Score and updated regularly.